Appeal your rideshare background check denial or suspension

The Transportation Network Company Division regulates rideshare companies in Massachusetts - such as Uber, Lyft, Via, UZURV, Circuit and SilverRide - along with their driver partners.

All drivers must have a Background Check Clearance Certificate (Clearance Certificate) from the TNC Division to drive for a rideshare company in Massachusetts.

Are you a rideshare driver whose Clearance Certificate was denied or suspended by the TNC Division?  If so, you can appeal your denial or suspension.

Here you’ll learn more about the driver appeal process, including how to appeal.

Table of Contents

How To Appeal

To file your appeal, you must first create an account in the Rideshare Driver Portal. Once you create an account, you may submit your appeal through the Rideshare Driver Portal. From there, you will be able to view your appeal status under the “List of My Appeals” section.  Please note that all appeals are reviewed in accordance with the regulations, but not all appeals will receive a hearing.

Once the Division reviews your appeal, you will receive an email notification that will alert you to log into your Rideshare Driver Portal account. Check your spam/junk folders to avoid missing these notifications. You can log into your Rideshare Driver Portal to view and manage your appeals on the "My Appeals" page.

All appeals are processed in the order they are received.

Remember, the TNC Division may not accept your appeal if you do not tell us why you are appealing. Be sure to include the following:

  • Tell us why the decision should be reversed.  For example, you may identify errors that you believe are on the records relied upon by the TNC Division in denying your BCCC.
  • Upload documentation that you believe will help us understand why the decision should be reversed.

“You have 30 business days to appeal your BCCC denial from the date it was issued. Appeals filed after 30 business days will not be allowed without good cause.”

Notice of Representation

You have the right to file an appeal on your own behalf, or through an Authorized Representative. An Authorized Representative must create a representative account through the Rideshare Driver Portal and upload the Notice of Representation form.

Your representative may upload all reliable information that supports your position to your appeal, including character references.  The TNC Division will review all documentation provided in accordance with the law.

Types of Disqualifications

There are three disqualifications the TNC Division may issue when denying a BCCC:

  1. Mandatory disqualification;
  2. Presumptive disqualification; or
  3. Discretionary disqualification.

The Division may issue a mandatory disqualification if any of your records include:

  1. A conviction for an offense listed in the Suitability Standard;
  2. A condition within the present look‑back period of the Suitability Standard; and/or
  3. An offense, continuation without a finding (CWOF), or violation within the Three Year, Five Year, Seven Year and Ten Year look‑back periods of the Suitability Standard.

The Division may issue a presumptive disqualification if you have a CWOF that occurred more than seven years ago but still within the relevant lookback period for an offense listed in the Suitability Standard. This is most commonly applicable to CWOF for offenses within the Indefinite lookback period of the Suitability Standards.

In certain instances, the Division may issue a discretionary disqualification even though the records received do not demonstrate a specific offense, condition, or violation of the Suitability Standard.

Appeal Hearings

Not all appeals will receive a hearing, but all appeals will be reviewed.  In most instances, appeals of mandatory disqualifications will not receive a hearing. This is because the review of mandatory disqualifying conditions is limited to whether a genuine issue of material fact exists on the records received, not the underlying facts.

  • It is very important that you describe the reasons for your appeal, such as any errors in your records or compelling reasons for reversing the Division’s decision.

Appeals of presumptive or discretionary disqualifications, however, usually receive a hearing and are reviewed in accordance with the factors specified in 220 CMR 274.15(2)

Appeal Processing

The Division will review every appeal received, whether you are appealing a mandatory, presumptive, or discretionary disqualification.

Once you submit your appeal through the Rideshare Driver Portal, you will be able to view your appeal status under the “List of My Appeals” section.  The Division may contact you for additional information through the Rideshare Driver Portal.  If you are including documentation as part of your appeal (such as a driving record or criminal record), please upload it through the Rideshare Driver Portal.

All correspondence, including your Hearing Notice (if applicable), will be issued to you via the Rideshare Driver Portal.  Be sure to check ALL your email accounts, including junk/spam folders for notifications.

Correcting Records

The Division cannot correct an error on your criminal record or driving record.

If you think that there is an error on your Massachusetts criminal record, you must contact the Chief Probation Officer of the court that charged you.

If you think that there is an error on your Massachusetts driving record, you must contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

If you would like to get a copy of your CORI (name-based court arraignment records) or RMV driving records, please follow the instructions on the CORI and driving record pages.

Contact   for Appeal your rideshare background check denial or suspension

Phone

Please leave a voicemail and we will return your call

Address

Department of Public Utilities
1 South Station, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02110

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